Reconstitution of shunted mantle in experimental hydrocephalus

✓ The morphological mechanism of the reconstitution of shunted mantle was studied histopathologically in 22 kaolin-treated hydrocephalic puppies. A remarkable attenuation of cerebral mantle to less than 1 cm in thickness was seen on computerized tomography (CT) scans of four animals sacrificed 1 to 2 months after kaolin treatment (preshunt group). Ventricular shunting resulted in successful recovery of the mantle on repeated CT scans obtained 1 to 2 months after shunting in seven animals (postshunt group). In the remaining 11 animals the cerebral mantle, which had been reduced to 4 mm in thickness prior to shunting, failed to recover even 2 months after the procedure (shunt-refractory group). On gross inspection, the preshunt specimens showed marked thinning of the white matter, with the cortical ribbon well preserved, while the postshunt specimens consisted predominantly of thickened white matter. Histopathological examination of the attenuated white matter of the preshunt specimens showed decreased nerv...